RIAA (really) doesn’t want file-swapping hearing online

A federal judge agreed to allow live Internet streaming of a single hearing in …

The Joel Tenenbaum trial was to feature a first: Internet streaming of at least the opening hearing (with the possibility of more to come). The music industry objects, however, and has now filed an appeal.

The first objection to putting video online appeared to stem from concern that it would prejudice the potential jury pool. The judge in the case called this argument "specious" and ruled in favor of Tenenbaum, who is represented by a Harvard law professor and a class of law students.

Now, the students send word that the RIAA actually cares enough about the issue to seek a stay of the ruling from the First Circuit Court of Appeals. The Great Experiment, which would have seen video of the hearing streamed next week to anyone in the world by Harvard's Berkman Center, might be over before it has even begun.